Signaling system



Feb. 23, 1932. c. E. LOMAX 1,846,218

SIGNALING SYSTEM Filed Feb. 24, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet l 1* Fl J 1 A6 1 Pm 1111 1 11 J 0 l A K iv /fi B i g J I :2; H I 5H 1 5 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 C. E. LOMA'X SIGNALING SYSTEM Filed Feb. 24, 1926 Feb. 23,, 1932.

Inuen ljlammm E. Lumax Patented F b. 23, 1932 UNITED STATES CLARENCE E. LOMAX, OF OAK PARK, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO

ASSOCIATED ELECTRIC LABQRATORIES, INCL, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A GORPORA- TION OF DELAWARE PATENT OFFICE $IGNALING SYSTEM Application filed February 24, 1926. Serial No. 90,251.

This invention relates to signaling systems in general, but more particularly to auto matic fire alarm systems, and the principal object is concerned with the provision of eiiicient, yet inexpensive fire alarm systems for private installations such, for example, as are used in factory buildings and railroad yards.

A feature of the invention is the provision of means for sending out the code corresponding to the operated fire station without having a coding device at the station.

Another feature provides a convenient means by which to alter the number of times a code is repeated before it is cutoff.

Another feature of the invention resides in the means for automatically sounding the code of the calling station any predetermined number of times, after which the sig nal is automatically cut-ofi'.

A further feature resides in the means for automatically preventing a second station code from being effective while the first station code is be ng sounded.

A still further feature is the provision of means for making afire station inoperative, after a signal has been received therefrom, until it has been repaired, and for indicating the operated condition of that particular station at the supervising office, and for restoring the central oilice equipment to normal, after that station has been repaired.

A further feature resides in the provision of means by which a coded signal is first sent out through the system, after a predetermined number of cycles, and is then automatically switched to a local non-code circuit which indicates that a station is in need of repair and also indicates the station.

T he means by which the foregoing and other objects are accomplished, comprise a variable number of fire stations, a central or supervising oifice having therein an automatic code selecting switch for finding the code of the operated fire station, a-timing switch for determ ning the number of times the code is to he sounded, relays to control the operation of the switches and also equipment individual to each fire station. The above will be full v'set forth hereinafter reference Leing had to the accompanying drawings comprising Figs. 1 and 2, with Fig. 1 placed to the left of Fig. 2. These drawings show ment C and C which is individual to each fire station and located in the supervisory oflice. Fig. 2 shows the cross connectin block CCB, the code switch CS, core cut-o switch TS, agid relay group RG, all located in the central cc.

Referring now particularl to Fig. 1, the fire alarm station such as #4 is of the usual type whereby a pair of contacts are normally held closed by a pane of glass in the face of the box and are opened in case of fire by a person breaking the glass. The apparatus such as C consists of a lamp L to indicate to the supervisor at the central office the particular station that has been operated, a key K by means of which the supervisor may sound the associated fire station code when a call is received by telephone or other means than this associated, fire station, and also for the purpose of testing the central oflice apparatus. The relay 5 is normally held energized by the contacts in the fire alarm box and falls back when these contacts are opened. The relay'25 is common to all the fire stations and when operated brings in an audible signal to inform the supervisor that a station is in need of repair. This is in addition to the lamps such as L. The relay 20 has a number of armatures, one for each piece of apparatus such as C and when this relay is operated,

after an alarm has been sounded, all the other fire stations are prevented from sending in another alarm.

Referring now to Fig. 2, the cross connecting block COB is for the purpose of connectnot having the tenth terminal in the lower half is to omit the use of as the first digit in the code because if the code 10 is repeated it would be easy to confuse it with the code one naught. On the left hand side of the block the terminals are also divided into two parts. Only a small number of these terminals are shown but it should be understood that there are 90 terminals in the lower half of the block and 100 in the upper. For each terminal on the right side of the block COB there are ten wires or jumpers connected to corresponding ten terminals on the left hand side It will thus be seen that this system to be described, has a capacity of 90 fire stations each having a two digit code and 10 stations having only a single digit code and describing the method of accompl shing this further; each two digit code station has one wire connected to a terminalof the lower left hand group of terminals of the blockCCB. This terminal is one of a group of ten terminals each of which has a wire leading to a station having the same first number of the code. These ten terminals each have a jumper connected to a single terminal on the lower righthand side of the block, this terminal corresponding to the first digit of the ten stations. This same arrangement applies to the upper left side of the block for the second digit of the code for each station.

6 The code switch CS is of the well known rotary type wherein the wipers rotate over the bank contacts in a forward direction only, under the guidance of stepping magnet 32. A switch of this general/type is disclosed in Patent #1,581,309 issued to John Erickson, April 20, 1926. The bank contacts over which wiper 30 rotates are divided into two arts, one wire from the bank in each half eading through the cross connecting block GCB to the same station apparatus such as C for instance, so that each station has a two number code as pointed out before. The code cut-off switch TS is of the same general construction as the code switch CS and determines the number of times the particular code is to be sounded throughout the system. Bymoving conductor 90 and attaching it to any one of the bank contacts the codes may be sounded anynumber of times. In this case it is shown connected so the code is sounded four. times. The fire alarmv gongs B and B are located at advanta eous positions throughout the premises and they may be of any number. The relay group RG starts the code and also controls the sending out *of the code and the speed of the code switch. I

The apparatus having been described in general the operation will now be explained more in detail with reference to the drawings.

It will be assumed that a person has discovered a fire somewherein close proximity to fire box #47 and a coded alarm is to be sent out over the system to the central or superrelay 40 to battery. Relay 40 up-on-energizing places ground on armature 52 by way of conductor 79 to relay 20. This relay 20 has a grounded armature and front contact leading to each one of the stations apparatus such as C and C in the system and prevents all relays such as 5 from releasing when the circuit is broken at that particular box. The circuit is traced as follows: ground onarmature 21 and front contact of relay 20, armature 13' and back contact of relay 6', armature 8 and front contact through winding of relay 5', to battery. It will thus be seen that when a signal is received, all other stations in the system are locked out.

Another effect of the energization of relay 40 is the placing of ground on armature 50, armature 33 and its back contact, armature 56 and itsback contact, through the winding of slow relay 41 to battery. Relay 41 and also 42 have a copper slug on the armature end so they energize and release slowly. When relay 41 energizes and armature 53 has closed its front contact a circuit is closed from ground on the front contact of armature 50, armature 53 and front contact through winding of stepping magnet 32, of the code switch CS, to battery. Magnet 32 opens the previous traced pircuit 0 slow relay 41 at armature 33 and allows this relay to fall back.

Relay 41 in turn opens the circuit of magnet 32 at armature 53 and the stepping magnet in deenergizing advances the wipers. 30 and 31 of the code switch one step onto the first set of bank contacts. The stepping relay, on

falling back, again closes the circuit for the relay 41 at armature 33. The above alternate energization and deenergization of slow relay 41 and stepping magnet 32 continues at a comparatively fast rate of s conductor 81, winding of relay 43 and resistance to battery. Relay 43 locks up through its own contacts and armature 55 to ground at armature 50 and frontcontact, so that when wiper 30 steps off at contact 87 this re lay will still be held up. The relay 41 being slow acting does not have time to close its contacts 53 toagain energize the stepping by way of grounded armature 50, armature co and back contact, armature 56 and front a contact, winding of relay 42 to battery. At

armature 54 relay 42 completes a new circuit for slow relay 41, which in turn completes the circuit of the stepping magnet and the code switchcontinues to advance its wipers as explained heretofore. 7

It "will now be apparent that the introduction of the slow relay 42 at this point in the circuit slows up the speed with which the wipers are advanced due tothe energization first of slow relay 42, then in turn relay 41 and then stepping magnet 32 which breaks the circuit of relay 42. When this relay falls back the circuit of the stepping relay is again broken and it falls back and the cycle of op erations is repeated. This above operation is brought about so that as the wipers 30 and 31 rotate over the bank contacts and before they reach bank contact 87 for instance, the switch steps around comparatively fast, After this contact is reached the operation is,considcr ably slowed up. During this time when the stepping magnet 32 is energized each time, a circuit is completed for relay 44 by way of grounded armature 50, front contact of armature 33, armature 57 and its front contact through winding of relay 44 to battery. Each time relay 44 is energized it completes a circult at its armature 53 for the fire alarm gongs l8 and B and all others that may be scattered throughout the premises.

ll 'hen the code switch has advanced its wiper 30 onto contact 85, the fire alarm gongs Ti, and B have been rung four times correspending to the first digit of the fire box #47. l fhen wiper 30 has reached contact 85 the relay 43 is short circuited from grounded conductor front contact and armature 51,

wiper 30, bank contact 35, conductor 80 and ping magnet falls back. With wiper 30 on banlr contact 86 the relay 43 is again energiaed and locked up, the short circuit being removed when the wiper had stepped off of banlr contact 85. The code switch continues to advance its wipers over the bank contacts and relay 44 is also alternately energized and deencrgimd so that the alarm gongs are again sounded once for each step of the magnet 32.

When wiper 30 has been advanced onto t bani: contact 88, the relay 43 is again short circuited over the following path; grounded conductor 82, front contact and armature 51, wiper 30, bank contact 88, through the block CCB to conductor 75, armature and its back contact, common conductor 80, through resistance to battery at relay 43. The relay 43 falls back and stops the ringing of the code which has now been rung four times, then a pause, and then seven times.

It may be stated at this time that when this fire alarm system-is installed in several buildings the first code, in this instant case, 4, would indicate the building the fire was in. The second code? would indicate the floor of that particular building. Thus all persons hearing this code would know where the fire was located.

The wipers continue to advance under the action of stepping magnet 32 and slow relay 41, but at a faster rate of speed than when the gongs were being rung and when the slow has stepped off the last contact and onto the first the whole cycle of operations is repeated as explained hereinbefore.

Each time that wiper 30 reaches banlr con tact 89 the magnet 62 is operated and the code cut-off switch TS is advanced one step. When the wiper has reached bank contact 59 the code of fire station #47 has been re-- peated 4 times on the alarm gongs throughout the premises. A circuit is at this time completed from ground on wiper 60, bank contact 59, conductor 90, winding of relay 65 to battery. Relay 65 upon energizing places ground on armature 68, through wind 1 ing of slow release relay 66, through the bank contact upon which code cut-oil switch. TS has stopped, wiper 61, contacts 63, winding of stepping magnet 62 to battery. Relay 66 furnishes a locking circuit for relay 65 from ground on armature 70, armature 67 and front contact throughwinding of relay 65 to battery. The code cut-ofi' switch TS is then stepped forward to normal position by the successive energization and deenergization of the stepping magnet 62, which breaks its own circuit at the contact 63. Another efiect of the energization of relay 65 is the placing of ground on armature 69, common conductor 83, back contact and armature 9 of relay 5, at the station apparatus C, through winding of relay 6 to battery. Relay 6 looks itself from ground on armature 14 and front con-- station will not be mutilated at this time.

When the code cut-ofi switch TS has stepped onto the last bank contact over which the wiper 61 is rotated, the circuit of the stepping magnet .62 is permanently broken and the switch stops rotating. Relay 66. in falling back opens the locking circuit of relay 65 at armature 70. Relay 65 falls back and removes ground from conductor 83. The switch TS is now in normal position.

. When the relay 6 of the apparatus C became locked up it completed a circuit for the lamp L from ground on the front contact and armature 12, lamp L, common conductor 84, winding of relay 25 to battery. The relay 25 in energizing completesan obvious circuit for the buzzer 27 by way of armature 26. Thus the supervisor at the central office is aware of the fact, by visible and audible means, that thev station #47 has been operated and is in need of repair, after the code of this station has been sounded on the fire alarm bells;

Another effect of the energizing of relay.

6 is the opening of armature 16 and back contact, this is so that when another code from another station is sounded and the relay 20 has energized the ground from an armature of relay 20 will not short circuit the relay 6 and allow it to fall back.

It will thus be seen that only one station at a time can operate. the central oflice apparatus and have its code sounded, and only when one code has sounded and been automatically cut-ofi can another station come in.

In repairing an operated station a new pane of glass is inserted in the face of the fire box,

thereby forcing the springs 15 into engagement again. These springs 15 place ground through key K to one side of the winding of relay 6 which has been locked up through relay 5. Relay 6 is thereby short circuited and allows its armatures to release. At armature 12 the circuit of-the lampL and the relay 25 is opened. At armature 16 the circuit for relay 5 is prepared so that a signal coming from another fire box willhold this relay energized from an armature of relay 20 which will in that case be energized.

When the station #47 has been repaired and no other stations have been operated in the mean time all the central ofiice apparatus glass of station #47 had been broken, and the operation is the same as explained heretofore.

Should the station #47 be repaired or the key K restored to normal before the full code has been sent out by the central ofiice apparatus, or the code has been sounded the required number of times, the code switch CS continues to advance its wipers until normal position is reached by means of the bank contacts over which wiper 31 rotates. The relay 40 being held up from ground on these bank contacts when the ground is removed from conductor 82 at armature 7 of relay 5, or until wiper 31 reaches the last bank contact upon which there is no ground potential. The chances, however, of the station being repaired before its code has been fully transmitted and repeated the set number of timesv is very remote. Likewise, it would only be through accident that the supervising operator would restore a key before the code has been repeated the required number of times. However, under either condition the switch TS is not restored automatically and, unless manually restored, will cut off the code of the next alarm turned in as soon as that code has been repeated the number of times necessary to bring wiper 60 to its contact 59. The switch TS will then restore automaticallyas herein before described.

While this invention has been illustrated in connection with a fire alarm system, it will of course be understood that it is capable of use with many other forms of systems, such as watchmens systems, burglar alarms, etc., and the applicant therefor does not wish to be limited to the precise invention as illustrated and described.

Having described my invention, what is considered to be new and desired to have protected by Letters Patent will be pointed out in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a code signaling system, signals, a stepping switch having a pair of contacts, a single signal controlling circuit passing through said pair of contacts, circuit controlling devices operated to start said stepping switch, means controlled by the operaa distinctive'code assigned to the operated device, a control switch operated once for each operation of said stepping switch, and circuits controlled by said control switch for stopping said stepping switch after the signals have been actuated a predetermined number of times.

2. In a fire alarm system, a plurality of fire stations, a central supervisory ofiice, alarm signals, a stepping switch at the office having a pair of contacts, a circuit controller at each station operated to control said stepping emma switch for automatically actuating said sig nals through said pair of contacts according to the code of any station a predetermined number of times, indicating devices at said office individual to each station, and means operated after a circuit controller has been operated and after said stepping switch has transmitted a code for operating the corresponding indicating device to inform an attendant that said circuit controller has been operated, said indicating device operated jointly by said circuit controller and said stepping switch.

3. in a signaling system, an alarm station, a central or supervisory station, a line connecting said stations, a relay at the central station individual to said line, other stations and equipment therefor like the line and equipment of the first station, a code transmitting switch at the central station having a bank of contacts and being common to said alarm stations, a relay group at the central station for controlling said switch and also being common to said stations, conductors extending from said common relay group and having as many branches as there are alarm stations, a plurality of other conductors connecting with the bank of said automatic switch there being as many of these as there are alarm stations, contacts closed by each relay when operated which is individual to a station turning in an alarm to close circuits between the conductors of said switch bank and common relay group characteristic only of the station turning in an alarm, and a com.

bined code counting and cutoff switch operated by said first switch after each transmission of a code and circuits controlled thereby for stopping said first switch after it has repeated said code a predetermined number of times.

+1. In a code signaling system, stations, a central office, lines connecting said stations, respectively, with said oflice, a pair of line relays at the central office there being one pair for each line, a signal, a switch, a group of relays responsive to the operation of one of the line relays of any station over its associated line for causing the operation of said switchto actuate said signal according to the distinctive code assigned to the instant calling station and to prevent the operation of a corresponding relay of another station interfering with the transmission of the first initiated code, and means under the control of said switch for causing the other line relay to again operate said first line relay to ermit the code of any other calling station to 1 c then automatically transmitted.

5. In a fire alarm system, a central station, a plurality of like branch stations, a relay at the centralstation individual to a branch station and normally energized over a circuit connecting a branch station with the central station, means at the branch station for cans said code, and means for automatically completing a local operating circuit for said relay following the transmission of the code to permit the transmission of a code charac' teristic of some other branch station.

6. In a signal system, a central station, a plurality of like branch stations, a pair of relays at the central station individual to a branch station, a closed circuit extending between the central station and one of said branch stations including and maintaining one of said relays operated, means at the branch station for causing the restoration of the operated relay to bring about the transmission of an alarm and for preventing any other station from interfering with the transmission of such alarm, means automatically effective following the transmission of the alarm for energizing the other relay of the pair over a local circuit to again complete an operating circuit for the normally operated relay to permit other branch stations to turn in alarms, and means for causing the deenergization of said second relay responsive to the restoration to normal of the operated means at the branch station.

7. In a fire alarm system, a central station, a plurality of like branch stations, a relay at the central station individual to a branch station and normally energized over a circuit connecting a branch station with the central station, means at the branch station for causmg the operation of said relay, alarmsignals, means responsive to the operation of said relay to cause the operation of said signals in accordance with a code characteristic only of such branch station, other means responsive to the operation of said relay to prevent any other station from interfering with the operation of said alarm signals, and means for automatically completing a local operating circuit for said relay following the operation of said alarm signals to permit the signals to be operated in accordance with a code characteristic of some other branch station.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 18th day of February, A. D.

ltd 

